ByteDance in talks to sell Moonton to Saudi Savvy Games for $6-7B

ByteDance is in "advanced talks" to sell Shanghai-based Moonton Technology, the studio behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, in a deal pitched at roughly $6 billion to $7 billion, sources say, and the companies have "reached an initial agreement on [the] broad terms of the deal." Those same sources say a transaction could be finalised as soon as this quarter, though no definitive sale has been announced and no filings are public.

Moonton, founded in 2014, runs development, publishing and esports operations for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and employs more than 2,000 staff across offices in Southeast Asia, Latin America and China. The mobile title has surpassed 1.5 billion installs, reaches over 110 million monthly active users, and ranks among the top 10 most played games in more than 80 countries. ByteDance acquired Moonton in 2021 through its gaming arm Nuverse in a deal valuing the studio at around $4 billion.

The potential buyer named in reporting is Savvy Games Group, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Savvy was founded in 2021 as a games and esports company and has been active in large transactions: it bought Scopely for $4.9 billion in 2023, and that entity subsequently acquired Niantic’s game division for $3.5 billion. Public Investment Fund involvement also extends to high-profile deals including participation in the investor group acquiring Electronic Arts in a transaction valued at $55 billion, and Savvy/PIF holdings have been reported across a range of publishers and developers such as Nintendo, Capcom, Nexon, Take Two, Activision Blizzard, and Koei Tecmo.

Most accounts place the sale price between $6 billion and $7 billion - roughly £4.4 billion to £5.2 billion - though some headlines used the phrasing "over $6 billion" or "up to $7 billion" and one aggregated line referenced $7.5 billion. Sources quoted on timing said the deal "could close by the end of this quarter" or "could be finalised as soon as this quarter." Reporting also notes that the unnamed sources declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

The possible divestment fits a wider shift at ByteDance. The company restructured its gaming division in 2023 after an internal review and confirmed in 2024 that it was in discussions to sell parts of its game business, with Tencent previously identified as a potential buyer in earlier discussions; industry commentary framed an exit as a significant pullback, saying it "would mark ByteDance's major retreat from online games."

Savvy Games declined to comment on the matter, while ByteDance and Moonton did not respond to press requests for comment. With Moonton’s 110 million-plus monthly audience and deep esports footprint in Southeast Asia, the deal - if completed - would reshape regional publishing power and could influence esports ecosystems and partnership dynamics in mobile distribution. Watch for official statements, regulatory filings, and any announcement of advisers or a signed agreement to confirm valuation, structure and timing.